Emphysema

Like chronic bronchitis, emphysema is another form of lung disease, and commonly occurs through smoking, or exposure to other harmful chemicals. When tobacco smoke and other harmful chemicals are breathed into the lungs it can cause damage to the smaller airways and airsacs of the lungs, known as alveoli, and the capillaries that feed them.

Emphysema results in the collapse of the small airwars in the lungs that leads to a diminished lung capacity and also, like chronic bronchitis, a long term cough that can cause further damage.

Symptoms of emphysema are similar to that of chronic bronchitis, and include shortness of breath, a cough, tiredness and often hyperventilation. The similarity of the symptoms of emphysema and chronic bronchitis is the main reason why it is commonly classed together into COPD.

There are treatments to slow the progression of emphysema, but the most important one is that the patient stops smoking. Supplemental oxygen is often available to assist with breathing and portable oxygen systems are available to minimize discomfort and improve mobility.

Useful contacts:

British Thoracic Society: http://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk

Patient UK website: http://www.patient.co.uk